Dulcet & Studio

This cozy cafe offers toothsome set meals of the day such as the norwegian salmon with anchovy butter for $15 nett inclusive of the soup of the day, coffee or garden tea and dessert.

The folks behind ramen institution Tampopo and this selfservice joint clearly know their clientele of expats and young professionals. Its Japanese-Western fare, soothing grey and dark wood color scheme (including a cutesy feature wall stenciled with cooking utensils) and slow pop tunes all cater to the clean-cut crowd. Service is quick and cheerful (you order at the front counter but food is brought to you) and the tight menu boasts simple, easy-to-appreciate flavors. There’s a warming mug of thick mushroom cappuccino ($5.50) and side salads with refreshing jellyfish ($4.50), but it’s the fresh pastas that are the main event here. Plates like mentaiko tagliolini ($13) tossed with salmon cubes, as well as the mild black pig bolognese fettucini ($12) have a sort of Asian-style lightness, while the generous portions make them a good deal, too. There’s also the option to upgrade your meal to a set: salad or soup and bread ($3), or a drink and dessert ($6). Sweets are familiar favorites from Tampopo, of which the faultless cream puff ($2.50) is our top pick. Wash it all down with some wines, five reds (from $32/bottle) and six whites (from $27/ bottle); surprising for a self-service joint. The best value though is the all-day, all-week happy hour with two bottles of Tiger or Asahi for $9. This is a comfy, affordable spot, and the food’s no slouch. We can’t complain.